Ments



Nov. 8, 1932. K. w. GRAYBILL 1,887,302

RELAY CIRCUIT' Original Filed Sept. 5, 1929 MARGIN/41.

Imam- Kh [nl Era bill Patented Nov. 8, 1932v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KENNETH W.'GEAYBILL, OEvILLA PAEK, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOR, VIsVY'IvIEsNE AssIefN-A YizIENrrs, To ASSOCIATED YELECTRIC' LAEonA"ro1tIEs`` INC., or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A

CORPORATION or DELAWARE RELAYV` CIRCUIT Original application filed September 5, 1929, Serial No. 390,474, Vnow Patent No. 1,805,140,7dated May 12,

1931.` Divided and this application filedctober 27, 1930.Y Serial` No. 491,354.

#This invention .relates to'relay circuits in general, but more particularly to the arrangement of relays and circuits therefor into what areycommonly known as counting relay arrangements. .Y v A t is the principal object of this invention to provide a system of counting relays which is particularly adaptable for use in a voltage regulating system such asthat disclosed in Letters Patent 1,805,140, issued May 12 1931, of which division. I l t Y f Other objects and features not specifically mentioned willlbe apparent from the following detaileddescription of the invention in connection with said voltage regulating-,system when that description is studied in conjunction with the accompanying single sheet of drawing. -Y

In the drawing, the storage-battery which patent this application is is to have its voltageV maintainedwithin certain limits is indicated atB, whilethe generator to charge the battery B is indicated at G. The generator is of .the shunt wound type having the field rheostatR. In series with the field winding and the field rheostat Rare the resistance elements R1 to R4, inclusive. These resistance elements are of a small value, thatvalue and the number of the resistances employed depending upon the range of vthe limitsandV the range in load variations. Y

The relays and circuits therefor which control the inclusion andexclusion of the resistance elements R1 to R4, inclusive, in the generator field are diagrammatically represented below the generatorGr and resistance elements R1 to R4. VThe relay 1.at the right side of the drawing is the low'voltage, marginally adjusted relay, beingbridged across the terminals of the battery B at all times and so adjusted that the relay will operate and remain in*` its operated position when the voltagerincreases to andremains above thelow voltage limit. Hereinaftenrelay 1 will be referred to as the 7low relay. j Y

At the left side of the drawing is the relay V2 which.` is the'highvoltage, marginally ad- Y justed relay, being so adjusted that it will not operate until the voltage of thel battery voltage ,increases to 46%E v When the equipmentv is at normal,which `is in its operated position. v slow-.to-release relays 3 and reaches the high limit,` This relay also Vis i Vseveral battery and ,groundconnections It is to be understood, however, that there is only one batt'eryin the system, the ground symbols representing connections to the posipole thereofrtol bus tive bus bar P, and the battery symbols representing connections lto the negative bus `bar P. l i l For the sake l of illustration, it Will be assumed that the voltage limits of battery B are 461/4volts and 46%c volts. The adjustment of V,the low relay 1 is such that when the voltage of the battery B falls below 461/4` 'volts,\.the relay will deenergize. The adjustment of the high relay 2 is such that sufficiently to attract its Yarmatures untilth volts. j Y

condition occurs when the voltage of battery B is within the required limits, the low relay This `results in 7 beingin their operated positions as is evident from the it does not energize drawing. It will be .noted that the normal i circuit of thelovvrelay 1 includes theresistance ,element T. Relay` 1 without theresistance^ T in series therewith will operateon a lower voltage than 46%c volts. f t

Relay 3,*at its armature 5, maintains a looking circuit prepared for relay `8, and at its Varmature 6, completes a circuit for ,highV relay 2 independent Of'resistanoe element T 5 Rellay 2.*with resistance Tk in series therewith requires `a much higher voltagethan4631I to cause it to VOperate and to maintainv it operated.

Relay 7 atits upper armature, maintains-a i Circuit prepared for, Fe,w17 and, at its 19W@ armature maintains open the circuit of low relay 1 which does not include the resistance T. n

The equipment remains in this,` condition until 'such time as the voltagevariesfirom within the high and low voltage limits.

It will rst be assumed that the load upon the'battery. B increases to such an eXtentthat the'volt'age drops below the low'limit'ot 461/4 volts. When thiscondition occurs, the low relay 1 will not receive suiiicient current to keep its armature attracted. The armature,

in retracting, opens theicircuit ofrelay 3 and completes the circuit for the lowerwinding of relay 17 via the upper armature of relay 7 andi-armature 19 andits resting contact oiV ofrelays 7 fand 2. The'circuit of relay 2,

izo

its

that is the circuit'of relay 2 which isfindependent 'of r'the resistance T', iis opened to insurethat relay 2 can underno condition operate as'long as the relay 1 is yoperating `to inc'reasethe battery vol-tage.Y

IRelay 7 also deenergizesatter an interval and atfits upper 'armature removes the short `circuitabout the upper windingof relay 17. Thereupon, both windings of relay 17 energi'za'in yseries and attract armatures 18, I19, fand :21,- also. i

At armature 18 relay 17'pl`aces a shunt about'the'resistance element R1, thereby lreducing the 'i'eld resistance ot'- the ygenerator `ito" increase the current output, lor charging L"2 i.te,'"of the generator@ Y At-*armature '--19 and Vits alternate contact, relay 17 prepares a circuitfor the lower wind- -ingfof l-two-steprelay3.26, which circuit will befoinpletedupon a subsequent- 'deene'rgiza- 'ft-ion otflo-'wrelay 1. Y

' Atarniature 21- f and its makeLbetore-break 'fcntactsfrelay 17 Vprepares avci-r'cuit -for relay 13. Y

"Wlienirelay 7 deenergi-'zedresponsive tothe deenergization of relayf 3,v at its lower armature,`-it completed a circuit for low relay 1, "which circuit*excludes the fresistance *element T. Relay 1, therefore, energizes 1 and f "cometes the circuitot relay `3,' which inturn energizes and againoperates-relay 7. f" Relay 7,1i'n operating, opens the just-'described ener- 'g-Zing circuitorelay 1 andlea-ves the circuit fffrelay f1 including resistancefeleinent T. 1n

the meantime, the charging-"rate ofthe lgen- Y :fera-tor :G hasfbeen increased and the: rrise 1n voltage ot the battery has commenced Ii the-increase isv -enough'fto return the voltage v3t"withinthelimits,'relay 1 will-remain enerthe associated resistance elernent'. R3.

of operations willbe performed'ancl two-step yrelay i411 will be operatedto stili/l further increase -the charging-irate by placing a shunt 'about-the associated resistance element- R4.

:lay 26 operates lfully when 'fthe short circuit ot its upper winding is removed by the deenergization Yof relay '7 and "functions as did relay 17 to further decrease the field resistance by placing a shuntabout the associated resistance element R2,t-hereby increasing qthe generator chargingrate an additional amount,

and toy prep are the lcircuit 'for-the lower.- winding 'of the ineXt "two-'stepl :relay 36 and'prepare the circuit of'rel'ay 22.

- AvRelay 1` is"` again operated by fthe deenergization of relay 7. This operationagain 'causesthe operation of irel'ays. and 7 .and the subsequent :removal ofthe short circuit 'about-resistanceelement T. f

It', 'by the exclusionofthe resistance felenient-R2 from the generator lield, the battery 'voltage hasbeenincreased" su-ciently -to maintain low relay 1 energized when its .only Vcirc-uit-includest'he element T,'1nothing -urther will happen until afnother change occurs. But, if 'the battery voltagehasfnotfbeen in? creased suiiiciently -toso maintain relay 1, the same cycle "of operations will occur 'and-relay l35 willbe operated-to yfurtherin'crea-se'the generator output by placing a shunt about It astill `further increase of the charging Vrate is necessary tei-return the voltage -ot the battery' B -to within the limits, the' same lcycle Under-ordinary operating conditions, it is unlikely 'thata-ll of" the resistanceielements Rl'to R11 willbe excludedffromfthe-'eld; but, as lunusual 'conditions inevitablywarise at one time or another, it is well toprov-ide "enough such resistance'elementsas will suficefor such an emergency. It there-sho-uldbe trouble, such-as agenerator failure or la short circuit of the battery, Vor anyv other 'serious trouble which lwould cause thev voltageiotl -the battery -to continual- 'l-ydrop,the op'erationiot the low-relay i1 after x *the last-'of the two-step-rela-ys, lin this case"1 44,-has been operated, completes ai circuit-for the lowvoltage valarm relay 49' which operates and, atits armature"52', lockslit'self to ground through restingcontact land 'armacompletes circuits for van' audible alarm and a klow voltage y"ala-rin z-tozcall the l attiendants n' attention 'to the trouble and'advise'hini of the nature thereof, andi-atfarmature 153 c'ompletes a circuit for low relay lfby short cirture'55 of relay '54, atarmatures Y:5G-"and 511125 When relay 44 operated to place a shunt about resistance element R4, the voltage increase Wasrsuiiicient to return the battery voltage Within the specied limits. It will further be assumed that after a time the battery voltf age has increased to such an extent that it rises abovethe high limit of 46%.volts Whennthat occurs, high relay 2' energizes sufficiently to attract its armature, thereby completing the circuit of sloW-to-release relay 54, which relay 'energizes -and attracts its armature 56 and its armature 55 into their alternate positions. In that position of armature 55, a circuit for relay 40 is completed by Way of armature 48 and its makebefore-brealr contact, since relay 44 is in its operated position. Y Relay 40 accordingly operates and'at its armature 42 completes a locking circuit for itself which is independent of relay 44, at armature 41 opens the locking circuitof relay 44, and at armature 43 pre#v pares a circuit for sloW-to-release' relay 57. The attraction of armature 56 short circuits resistance T to insure that relay 1 Will not deenergize with any momentary fluctuations of the battery voltage.

Relay 44 deenergizes when its lockingcircuit is opened and retracts its armatures. The retraction of armature 45 removes the shunt from around Vresistance element R4, thereby increasing the generator field resistance to decrease the charging rate. The retraction ofv armature 48 transfers the ground at armature l from the original circuit of relay 40 to relay 57 via armature 43 and its Valternate contact. VThis energizes relay 57 which attracts its armature to remove the short circuit from abouftjiesistance element T. lVith element T in series With-its Winding, relay 2 does n ot receive enough current to maintain its armature attracted, so the armature retracts and opens the circuit of relay 54.

After an interval relay 54 deenergizes and retracts its armature 55 to open the locking circuit of relay 40 and the circuit of relay 57.

A Relays 40 and 57 release relay 40 immedi-` ately and relay 57 after an interval. Relay 57 in releasing Vagain completes a circuit for high relay 2 via armature 10 of relay 8 and 'armature 6 of relay 3, which circuit short circuits resistance element T.

When T is short circuited, high relay 2 will remain inert if the voltage of the battery has receded to Within the limits. If the voltage is still above the high limit, relay 2 Will again operate to complete the circuit of relay 54. The operation of relay 54 this time operates relay 31 since relays 44 and 40 have been released.

Relay 31 locks itself and unlocks relay 35 Which deenergizes to remove the shunt from ground resistance element R3 to further in# crease the generator iieldto further decrease the charging rate. The release ofrelay 35 completes the circuit of relay 37 when it retracts its armature 38 since armature 34 of relay 31 is in its attracted position. Relay 57 opens the circuit of relay 2 Which does vnot include the resistance T and relay 2 Vdeener-v gizes as before to releasev relay 54'Which in turn releases relay 31 Which in 'its turn releases relay 57.

Relay 57 again short circuits resistance T.

If relay 2 againoperates,rwhich operation` i y indicates that the battery voltage has not de'- creased sutliciently, the saine cycle of operations will again take` place, the cycle this time including relays=22 and 26 Which-func-y tion the same as relays 31-35 and 40-44. This time the short circuit is removedfrom e about resistance element R2 and the field resistance and generator charging rate are varied accordingly.

Anotheroperation of high relay2'yvill in-V clude relays 13 and 17 in the cycle andresistance element R1 Will be included in the 'generator field to cause vstill another decrease in the charging-rate. f,

If for some reason the voltage of the battery stillreinains above the high limit aft-er al1 of the resistance elements R1 to R4, inclusive, have been included in the generator field, the next operation of relay 2 'after' re sistance T has been short circuited Will com plete the circuit of relay 8 to those completed for relays 40, 31, 22, and 13. Relay 8 Will operate and lock itself Vat lits armature 9,' lat armature 1() iemoves the short circuitabout resistance T to prevent further operations of relay 2, and at armatures 11 and 12 completes circuits for the audible alarmand a high voltage alarm or motorshut-off alarm. From the foregoing, it can be seen that as the high relay 2 are inactive and are performling a continuous test of the battery voltage. As soon asl the voltage varies from With- 1GOV in the limits, one or the other ofthe relays 1 and 2 becoming active perform periodic tests of the battery turns to normal.

Having thus described my invention, what I consider neW'and desire to have protected by Letters YPatent is pended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a vrelay system, a plurality of pairsV of relays, a chain circuit Vfor the first relays of said pairs, a locking circuit individual to each first relay, means for intermittently closing said chain circuit, 'each of said rst relays'energizing responsive toa-,closure of said chain circuit and havingmeans operated therebyV to complete 'itsyindividual voltage until the voltage "repointed out in the ap-v i locking circuit* and .to extend. saidI chain oir-f cuit to the fnext; ilirst ,relay, achainv circuit for intermittently @closing saidv second chain circuit, each .of `said secondY relays energizing responsive to Va closure of ,said second chain circuit and -ha-Vinfr thereupon to open the locloringrcircuit of the associated first relay'of the'pair to-release.

thatarelay, andfmeans operated by the releaseiof-each irstrelay to extendsaid second chain 'circuit to the next of said secondrelays,

2. In a relay system, a pluralit .of pairs f relays',-` a chain `circuit Aforv the rst relays of-v lsaid pairs, .a locking circuit individualy to each.` first relay, means for Amonfientarily clos-L ingisaidchainicircuit, each ofksaidiirstrelays ener-gizinggfresponsive-to a closure of said chainucircuit and. having `means operated thereby togzcomplete its individuallockingcircu-it and sto f extend vsaid ,chain circuit to thene-Xtof the rst relays, whereby said first relays are energized in a delinite progression.

and maintained energized independently .of

.cach other, afchain circuit for the second re-V lays of saidpairs, means for vmomentarily closingsaid `second chain circuit, each of saidl second relays momentarily 'energizingv responsive to -a momentary closure of said second chain circuit and havingmeans operatedthereby to open the locking circuit individual to theg. associated rstrelay of the pair .to release that relay, and -.means operated by thearelease-of 'each pair -of relays to extend said-secondchaincircuit .to the next of said second relays, whereby said second relays areenergized ina definite progression to release.

the. energized lirst relays in ra progression reverse l,to that -in which they wereenergized.V 3.. In a relay system, la first master relay, il

secondmaster relay, means for m mentarily operating each master relay vandi preventing p the operationof the -other -while one master relay is operatmg,a plurality ofpairsof lrelays, a chain circuit Jforthe first relays of said pairs, adocking circuitindividual Ito each-- lirst relay, means operated by each momen;

locking circuit and'to extend saidchainfcircuit tothe next of said first, rel a.ys,'wherebyI said fir`st,relays are energized: onez-fo'rieach momentary operation of said firstfmaster relay and in a definite progression,- a chain circuit; foi-the second .relays ofv said-pairs, means operatedV `by i each 1 `momentary :operation of 'said secondmaster relay to momentarily clo'sevsaid second chain circuit, eachof saidA second relays momentarily energizing ref sponsigve to a momentary closure of said sec ondchain circuit and having means operated thereby'tofopen the locking circuitindividffv menace f;

restore that relay, andmeansoperatedby the restoration of each-.pain joii relays toiextend said secondichain circuit to the next of,-,said second relays, whereby said second relays-,areY

; energized inta definite progression, each mofmeansl operated mentarily, to, restore said. iirst :relays:l in; -a progressionreverse tothat. .inf which they were energized.

4.. In arelay system, a .plurality of.V pairs of relays, a `chain, circuit Afor .the ftirst Arelays of saidzpairs, a locking circuit individual.: .to each-first relay, means for momentarily cl'osing said chaincircuit; a variable number of times, each first frelay :energizing responsive tola closure of said: chaincircuit andihaving; means-operatedthereby to close vits individ-y ualiflocking circuit :andf'toextend said chain=4 circuitto the next of said irstrelays, whereby said relaysgare-energized in a deiiniteiprogressio'nand in inumbers correspondingto rthe number of momentary 'closures' of said chain,`

circuit,. a chain circuit for Athe second relays.: of'said pairs, meansfor momentarily'closfinggsaid second chain circuit a-Variable numberoftimes,veach second relay momentarily4 energizing responsive -to a i. closure of said secondfchain circuit kand having means. operatedthereby to open the lockingcircuit indivvidual to the associated lirst relay0fthe-pai1 y torelefasethatrelay, and means associated witheachfirst relay and operatedby the enf ergizatiou-oi`l its associated first-relay to eX-. tend saidsecond` cha-in circuit-to the second. relay ofthatpai1tf and again yoperated by :the release of its Aas'sociatedfiirst relay to extendr said'second, chain circuit -to the next of. said f second relays, whereby the-first-second relay to v be energized is that Vassociated with Y the f last ofsaidffirstrelays energized-'and whereby 1 said iirst relays are -released infra progression;A reversetofthat; in Awhich they were energized.,

Inwitness whereof, I 'hereunto subscribe: my name this 23d day of October, A.- D'. 1930..

- KENNETH GRAYBILL; 

